Photo by Patrick J. Buechi/Staff  -  Teresa Natalizia, 15, from Padre Pio Parish discusses the topic of school uniforms during a small group discussion at Christian Leadership Institute held this year at Stella Niagara Center for Renewal, Lewiston.

Knowledge is power. That important lesson will not be forgotten any time soon by those who participated in the Christian Leadership Institute this year.

The weeklong program, presented by the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, provides an opportunity for young people to develop skills for leadership and Christian ministry. It challenges young people to share insights and knowledge so as to grow in faith together. Participants learn different leadership styles, communication skills, planning skills, group dynamics and decision-making, first in a lecture, then in test kitchens where they convert the newfound knowledge into power by facilitating small group discussions and planning sessions.

“It would be hard to learn if they just did lecture style, but they do so many activities and things where you actually have to use the skills, that you pick it up so fast because you’re not just writing them down and taking notes,” said Sara Fox from St. John the Baptist Parish in Alden.

The 17-year-old thinks the progressive format of the program aids the learning. Lessons build upon one another to form a continuous learning process. “I feel the activities here really help to demonstrate what we learn in our lecture classes. The free time allows for community building, the meals, the planning. What I especially love is that we have planning session every evening in which we are able to implement our skills in a controlled environment before they throw us out into the real world,” she said.

Beginning at Day 1 the team of adult instructors implements something called Direct Leadership, where the participants simply follow instructions without any input. “As time goes on and days pass, we’re slowly bearing more weight of the CLI program. We’re leading more,” said Mike Wierzba, 16, from St. Andrew Parish, Sloan.
Most of the teens who participate in the program are chosen by teachers or youth ministers. Many of them have already involved themselves in leadership roles at school or at church.

Photo by Patrick J. Buechi/Staff  -  Ana Rivera, Ss. Columba-Brigid, Buffalo, discusses the topic of school uniforms during a small group discussion at Christian Leadership Institute held this year at Stella Niagara Center for Renewal, Lewiston.

Andrea Waclawek looked into other courses like Leadership Buffalo and Dale Carnegie, but chose CLI because of the Christian aspect. CLI teaches about servant leadership and to lead, sometimes one must die a little as Christ did.

“I looked into (other programs) that were focused on leadership, but this one seemed like I would get more out of it. I could work on my leadership skills, but also become a more faithful person and learn how I could connect those two,” Waclawek said.

Waclawek’s religion teacher at Sacred Heart Academy in Eggertsville had attended CLI years ago and still uses the skills taught. Waclawek recognized phrases used by facilitators Patty Bubar Spear, Kathryn Goller and Jennifer Belock, who instruct the teens to use effective personal “I-messages” in confrontation and conversation.
“(My teacher) said it was one of the greatest experiences she had been through, especially as a teen,” the 16-year-old from St. Christopher Parish in Tonawanda said.

A side effect of the program is that participants open up to each other over the course of the week. Everyone comes for the same reason and they work together without preconceptions of one another. The teens can be themselves and gauge the reaction of others. A trust forms and bonding comes quickly. Conversations are heart to heart, not superficial, even after knowing each other only a couple days.

“I was walking down the hall a couple nights ago and these people were talking about morality and purgatory,” said Fox. “I would never ever do this at home, but I said, ‘Hey, can I jump in. I always wanted to know what people thought of this. I always wanted this question answered.’ We sat at the end of the hallway and had this discussion on morality that you could never ever have outside.”

Wierzba said that masks and walls are roadblocks, using a term learned at CLI.

Forty-eight teens participated in CLI this year, which was held at Stella Niagara’s Center of Renewal.
The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry provides resources for parents on their website www.dobyouth.org/YouthMinistry. “Our hope is to help parents better understand the CLI experience and to support their child as a leader,” said Goller, director of the office.

Photo by Patrick J. Buechi/Staff  -  Teresa Natalizia, 15, from Padre Pio Parish discusses the topic of school uniforms during a small group discussion at Christian Leadership Institute held this year at Stella Niagara Center for Renewal, Lewiston.

Knowledge is power. That important lesson will not be forgotten any time soon by those who participated in the Christian Leadership Institute this year.

The weeklong program, presented by the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, provides an opportunity for young people to develop skills for leadership and Christian ministry. It challenges young people to share insights and knowledge so as to grow in faith together. Participants learn different leadership styles, communication skills, planning skills, group dynamics and decision-making, first in a lecture, then in test kitchens where they convert the newfound knowledge into power by facilitating small group discussions and planning sessions.

“It would be hard to learn if they just did lecture style, but they do so many activities and things where you actually have to use the skills, that you pick it up so fast because you’re not just writing them down and taking notes,” said Sara Fox from St. John the Baptist Parish in Alden.

The 17-year-old thinks the progressive format of the program aids the learning. Lessons build upon one another to form a continuous learning process. “I feel the activities here really help to demonstrate what we learn in our lecture classes. The free time allows for community building, the meals, the planning. What I especially love is that we have planning session every evening in which we are able to implement our skills in a controlled environment before they throw us out into the real world,” she said.

Beginning at Day 1 the team of adult instructors implements something called Direct Leadership, where the participants simply follow instructions without any input. “As time goes on and days pass, we’re slowly bearing more weight of the CLI program. We’re leading more,” said Mike Wierzba, 16, from St. Andrew Parish, Sloan.
Most of the teens who participate in the program are chosen by teachers or youth ministers. Many of them have already involved themselves in leadership roles at school or at church.

Photo by Patrick J. Buechi/Staff  -  Ana Rivera, Ss. Columba-Brigid, Buffalo, discusses the topic of school uniforms during a small group discussion at Christian Leadership Institute held this year at Stella Niagara Center for Renewal, Lewiston.

Andrea Waclawek looked into other courses like Leadership Buffalo and Dale Carnegie, but chose CLI because of the Christian aspect. CLI teaches about servant leadership and to lead, sometimes one must die a little as Christ did.

“I looked into (other programs) that were focused on leadership, but this one seemed like I would get more out of it. I could work on my leadership skills, but also become a more faithful person and learn how I could connect those two,” Waclawek said.

Waclawek’s religion teacher at Sacred Heart Academy in Eggertsville had attended CLI years ago and still uses the skills taught. Waclawek recognized phrases used by facilitators Patty Bubar Spear, Kathryn Goller and Jennifer Belock, who instruct the teens to use effective personal “I-messages” in confrontation and conversation.
“(My teacher) said it was one of the greatest experiences she had been through, especially as a teen,” the 16-year-old from St. Christopher Parish in Tonawanda said.

A side effect of the program is that participants open up to each other over the course of the week. Everyone comes for the same reason and they work together without preconceptions of one another. The teens can be themselves and gauge the reaction of others. A trust forms and bonding comes quickly. Conversations are heart to heart, not superficial, even after knowing each other only a couple days.

“I was walking down the hall a couple nights ago and these people were talking about morality and purgatory,” said Fox. “I would never ever do this at home, but I said, ‘Hey, can I jump in. I always wanted to know what people thought of this. I always wanted this question answered.’ We sat at the end of the hallway and had this discussion on morality that you could never ever have outside.”

Wierzba said that masks and walls are roadblocks, using a term learned at CLI.

Forty-eight teens participated in CLI this year, which was held at Stella Niagara’s Center of Renewal.
The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry provides resources for parents on their website www.dobyouth.org/YouthMinistry. “Our hope is to help parents better understand the CLI experience and to support their child as a leader,” said Goller, director of the office.